JOY PASSED DOWN (Poem)

Hey y’all!

The writing prompt for Day 29 is to write a two-part poem that focuses on a food or type of meal. At some point in the poem, describe the food or meal as if it were a specific kind of person. Give the food/meal at least one line of spoken dialogue.

Here is my poem:

JOY PASSED DOWN

By Farah Lawal Harris, © 2023

1.

You know it’s hot enough when

your nose runs.

Extra points for head sweats.

Egusi soup with fufu—

Ooh! Ooh!

My parents’ recipe included:

chicken, goat, smoked turkey,

tripe, cow feet, collard greens,

and of course, egusi.

My mother would pour those

ground melon seeds into a small bowl,

mix egg whites,

and drop them into the boiling soup

to form little dumplings

that hit the stomach just right.

So right that the only options afterward

were to sit down or get some shuteye.

This meal has passed down bloodlines.

My child’s eyes light up

and he does a happy dance

whenever he gets egusi stew

from his grandparents.

Good food is joy passed down.

2.

I haven’t tasted egusi in a long while.

I eat plant-based now.

Egusi has become the ex who texts,

“Hey, big head”

at 9 pm on a Saturday night.

It was a hard sacrifice,

but after my belly began to swell

after each meat-heavy meal

and chronic pain kissed my neck

more than my husband ever could,

it was time to evaluate my food.

As for the rest of my family,

abeg, enjoy it and savor!

Now my big bro makes me

Naija stews with exotic mushrooms

so I don’t miss out on flavor.

Good food is joy passed down.

From down the street, Egusi shouts:

“You’re less Nigerian now!”

But I ignore him and push that to the side.

I may have gone down a dress size,

but I never lost my pride.